Tractor mounted brush saw



Dec. 11', 1951 B. MILLER ET AL TRACTOR MOUNTED BRUSH SAW 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1949 INVENTORS Bari MZZQ? fiwerifiMiZZer ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1951 B. MILLER ETAL 2,577,9Q5

TRACTOR MOUNTED BRUSH SAW Filed Oct. 10, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORfi ATTORNEY5 Dec. 11, 1951 s. MILLER ETAL TRACTOR MOUNTED BRUSH SAW 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I INVENTORS Berillll'l Z a? ATTORNEXS Filed Oct. 10, 1949 P'atentecl Dec. 11 1951 lei-2 a UNITED STATES OFFICE] A o 1i j.1 2.5 mi; s TRACTOR MOUNTED- BRUSH SAW Bert Miller and fierbert H. Miller, Brunswick, Ga. Application October 10, 1949, Serial No. 120,506 4 Claims. (01.1}13-49 1 V v V 2 -'Ihis invention relates to a portable saw-and Still another object is to provide a portable more particularly a plurality of powerized saws cutting device having individual power units adjustably mounted on a tractor and capable ofconnected together and correlated to provide for combined operation with the tractor to cut a combined power usable at one or both said saws; swath through a-brush undergrowth. 5 Further objects of the invention will become Prior to thistime, various unsuccessful at apparent from the following description when tempts have been made to develop power'equiptaken in conjunction with the drawings in which ment capable of satisfactorily cutting heavy like numbers refer to like parts in the different underbrush and like growth, including small figures. trees, from a given area. The problem difiicult In the drawings:

of solution has been to attain sufliciently depend- Figure 1 is a plan view of the present invention able power in a unit light enough for the mamounted on a conventional tractor; neuverability required. The usual practice is to Figure 2is a side view taken on line 2--2 of operate the cutters of such devices from the Figure 1; power source used to drive the carrying mech- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 anism, which means that the saws can only be of Figure 1; I rotated in accordance with thespeed at which 4 Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-'-4 the tractor engine is operated. Other equipof Figure 1; ment has been developed in which the cutter Figure 5 is a partial fragmentary view taken is maneuvered by hand, which has the disadon line 5-5 of Figure 2; vantage of being incapable of carrying sufii- Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of cient power to accomplish satisfactory cutting Figure 2; through heavy underbrush or trees of reasonable Figure '7 is a side detail view taken on line 'l"| size, as well as being slow and inefficientin of Figure 1-; and V operation. .Figure 8 is a partial section taken on line 8--8 In the present invention the saws are adjustofFigure 2. ably carried and operated in conjunction with Referring in more detail to the drawings, l0 individual power units correlated to provide indicates generally the saw unit of this invention suflicient cutting power independent of a prime adapted to be mounted on a tractor ll repremover driving means. senting the type of tractor having a tubular main One of the advantages is that the saws can structure l2, front l3 and rear l4 axles and be operated at the most efficient speed for light provided with a lift mechanism 21 extending or heavy cutting, as the occasion demands, iroutwardly and rearwardly from a point adjacent respective of the terrain It is obvious that in' the rear axle and motivated by the tractor engine operating throughhilly land or through swamps, I5. Unit 10 is comprised of a substantially the driving power of the prime mover would rectangular shaped frame 16 formed with two either have to be excessive or else beinsuflicient side channels I1 and [8 that extend longitudito carry both the driving load and the sawing nally of the tubular main structure I2, with a load. Another advantage is that by having the slight taper at the front of the tractor H. The saws individually powerized allows for a pivotal side channels I! and 18 are of sufficient-length arrangement of the carrying frame which en to protrude forwardly and rearwardly of the ables the operator to quickly adjust his saws tractor as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and are" relative to the ground over which he is cutting, joined together at the rear by a rear cross memso as to allow for changing conditionsin the her l9 having ends welded to the side channels. terrain. The front ends of the side channels 11 and I8 Itis among the objects of this invention to are held in spaced relationship by a front cross provide a highly maneuverable sawing unit piece 20 welded across the ends thereof. The capable of being mounted on a conventional type length of the front cross piece 20 is sufficient of tractor. I to provide protruding ends 10 extending out;-

Another object is to provide a rugged portable rm wardly from the side frames. The slight taper saw unit inexpensive of manufacture and provided in the frame It corresponds generally maintenance. .7 togtloe difference in front and rear tread widths A still further object is to provide a pair of of the tractor, as illustrated by the spacing of circular saws rotatable forwardly of a tractor the front tires 2| and the rear tires 22. The for horizontal cutting relative to the ground frame 16 is pivotally suspended longitudinally of level. p x v .l Q; .5; the, tractor adjacent the front axle l3 by apertured uprights 23 welded to the top of each side channel I! and I8. These uprights are secured to the front axle |3 by angular bolts 24 carried by the axle and pivotally mounted in the uprights 23 with a bearing surface 25 adapted for positioning in any one of the apertures 26 formed in the uprights. This type of mounting allows for a frame I 6 to be adjustably raised or lowered relative to the axle I3, 'as well as capable of being pivoted -about the pivot points formed by the axes of bolts 24 which allows for the front end of the frame to be raised or lowered on raising or lowering of the rear end of the frame by the";

tractor lift means as hereinafter explained.

The lift mechanism 21 of the tractor ll 'co nsists of a pair of cranks 28 positioned adjacent the rear axle I4 and adapted for motivation by the tractor engine through a hydraulic'or like means incorporated in the tractor drive mechanism '(not shown) Dependentfrom. each crank 23 are links 29 connected to levers 30 having the front ends 3i thereto pivoted to the tractor structure L2 at points 32 with free ends 33 :extending rearwardly and connected to a rotatable crossbar 34 formed with a plurality :of bolt holes 31 positioned above the rear cross member 19 of the frame 15. Cross bar 34 is connected to the frame cross member l9 by several eye bolts 35 pivotally mounted in eyes 36=formed integrally with andextending upwardly of said cross member l9. This manner of suspension andconnecldon of the lift to the rear end of the frame allows for quick tipping of the front of the frame up-ortdown asrequired to cut brush at a uniform ground level irrespective of sudden changes in said ground level. However, in those cases where the saw is to be operated at a sufficient distance above the ground level to allow for reasonable changes in the terrain, or the cutting is not limited to a specified height from the ground level, it is obvious that the frame may be fixedly mounted to the axles of the tractor by U-shaped bolts of suitable length.

Carried by the front cross piece and spaced a suitable distance from each end Hi thereof are apair of vertical spindle mounts 38 centered relative to each other a suitable distance apart to allow .for the rotation of a plurality of saws in thesame plane about their centers as hereinafter described. The spindle mounts 38 are of suflici'ent length .to position the saw spindles 39 rotatably mounted therein with a bottom end 40 and a top end 4| of each spindle protruding therefrom. Fit-:ed to the bott'omend 4B of each spindle 39 is a conventional type of circular saw blade 42 of sufficient diameter that when rotatably positioned the pair of blades substantially close the space between the pair of spindles. Fixed to the top end 4| of each spindle area pair of pulleys, one of which is designated as-a driven pulley -43 and the other as the cross drive pulley 44. Both sets of pulleys '43 and 44 are formed with suitable sheaves 11 positioned for driven and drive engagement respectively with a plurality of V-shaped belts hereinafter described. l

Individual power units 45 and 46 are provided for rotation-of each saw 42 through longitudinally running motor belts 4| engaging with driven pulley 43 of each saw. Each of the power units 45 and 46 consists of a suitable self-contained air cooled gasoline engine or like power means adapted to deliver rotative force from a motor pulley 48 protruding therefrom and arranged-do drive its respective saw 42 through the V-shaped longitudinally running motor belts 41. The motor belts 41 are shown as three distinct belts arranged to provide a flexible drive means, however, it is obvious that any other suitable drive means that will provide the dependability of operation desired could be utilized.

The power units 45 and 46 are mounted at each side of the tractor engine IS on flat plates 52 independently carried by a U-shaped support member 49 rota'tably mounted under the frame l6 by means of mount straps 50 encircling said "member with the ends bolted to the frame channels and 48 by suitable bolt means 5|. Having the U-shaped support member 49 rotatably mounted in this manner allows for the power units 45 and 45 to be rocked toward and away "from the saws to increase or decrease the tension on the belts 41. Securing the motor units to the U-shaped support member is provided by the flat jmotor plates 52 welded across the upwardly extended ends of the support with the motor units boltedto the plates by suitable bolt means, as .best shown in Figure 2. The rockability of the motor units 45 and 46 is utilized as a clutch means inoperating the saws 42. It is apparent that to rock the motor units 45 and 46 away from the saws whereby the V-shaped belts 41 are moved into close engagement with the sheaves of the motor pulleys 48 will effect elimination of slippage therebetween and rotate the saws under direct drive of the motor units and inversely by rocking the motor units toward the saws will allow the V--shaped.belts to ride out of the pulley sheaves and effect slippage therebetween which ;is utilized to stop rotation of the saws as desired by the operator. Manual means for rocking the motor units 45 and 48 and holding them in an engaged or released position is provided. for by :a pivotedsemicircular lever org-metal strap '53 formed to extend over the tractor engine 15 with opposite ends 54 pivoted to 'a bracket 55 secured to the frame channels I! and I8, asrat 56, and intermediately lever connected to the motor unit support plates 52. Meansforsecuring the strap 63 in any desired position isprovided by a racheted bar 58 having one-end pivotedto the top of the tractor engine I5, :as at '59, with the rachet portion in gravital engagement with the strap 63, having a round section 12 adapted for engagement in the notches 13 of the ratchet.

Extendin between the two saw spindles is a third .set of v-shaped belts 60 which form a cross driving .means therefor. These cross drive belts 60 are of suflicient length to drivingly engage in the sheaves of the cross drive pulleys 44 fixed tothe top ends of the spindles 4| to correlate the operation of the saws 42. Hingedly mounted 'on the front cross piece 20 for engagement with the cross drive belts 60 is an idler 6|. The idler 61 is held in close engagement with the belts 60 under the urge of a tensioning spring 62 that extends between the idler mount-arm 63 and a forwardly extending spring anchor-arm 64, carried by the front :cross piece 20 to maintain thebelts under proper driving tension. It has been found that by tying the two saws 42 together for correlated operation by either or both :of the power units 45 and 45, adds considerable to the efilciency, not only of the power units themselves, but also of the operation of the saws. The efiiciency of the motor units is increased in that it allows them to be operated at their most efficient speed for normal operation of the saws rather than at full power "ow put as would be required to avoid stalling thereof on sudden engagement with a heavy growth. The efficiency of the saws is increased in that it allows for working through heavy growth under the combined power of both units. These conditions often occur in cutting brush where the load is extremely irregular, reaching maximum when both saws strike trees simultaneously, and minimum when both saws are cutting relatively light underbrush. In cutting a straight swath, both of these conditions are likely to occur at intermittent intervals not readily foreseen by the operator. With the power units and saws tied together as disclosed by this invention provides for correlated cutting and the combined output of the power units can be utilized to cut a tree with the other saw remaining idle as a matter of routine operation so as to not require special maneuvering of the prime mover by which the saw is bein operated. In this manner a much larger acreage per day coverage for a given unit can be attained. Also, it is obvious that neither unit need be operated at as full a power output when the torque of the lesser load unit can be automatically utilized as a booster means. It is also to be noted that both saws 42 are adapted for rotation in the same direction which avoids any tendency of the saws to pull or gather the cuttings into the saws, but rather effects a clearing away of the brush to both sides of cutting unit l0.

Extendin around the front of the frame I6 is a guard or bumper, shown generally as 65, having a front rail 66 that extends forwardly and upwardly at an angle above the saws 42 with opposite ends bolted to the frame endpiece 26, as at 6?. Weld-joined to the rail 66 are intermediate transverse braces 68 and a pair of longitudinal braces 69. The longitudinal braces 69 are spaced substantially as extensions of the side channels I! and I8 with ends spaced from the front rail 66 secured to the said channels so as to convey thrust forces exerted against the bumper to the channels. The elevation of the rail 65 is such as to effect pushing back of the brush and trees being cut on forward movement of the tractor and also guard the saw driving mechanism from possible damage resulting from the tumblin of trees and brush thereinto.

It is apparent some changes may be made in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is the intention to cover by the claims such changes as may be reasonably included within the scope of said claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A portable sawing device for use with a tractor having a rearwardly extended lift means mechanism comprising a frame adapted for pivotal suspension under the tractor at a point spaced from the front end of said frame with its rear end connected to the tractor lift, a plurality of circular saws carried by the frame for horizontal rotation, individual power means carried by the frame and drivingly engaged with each respective saw for rotation thereof.

2. A portable sawing device for use with a tractor equipped with lift means comprising a frame suspended from said tractor at spaced points, one of said points being comprised of transversely spaced pivots with the other point of suspension being spaced rearwardly of the first said point of suspension and connected to said tractor lift so as to effect pivotal raisin and lowering of the ends. of said frame by operation of the tractor lift means, horizontally positioned circular saws carried by the frame in spaced relationship to each other in a given plane, and individual power means drivingly connected to each saw.

3. A portable sawing device for operation with a tractor having a lift means extending rearwardly therefrom comprising a frame pivotally suspended intermediate its ends from thetractor with a free end connected to the tractor lift adapted to raise and lower said free end, saws rotatably mounted on the other end of the frame for rotation forwardly of said frame in a horizontal plane, individual power units drivingly connected to each of said saws for rotation thereof, and drive means connectin the saws together for correlated rotation relative to each other.

4. A sawing device as claimed in claim 3 in which said independent power units are connected to each saw by a flexible drive means and are pivotally mounted on the frame for limited longitudinal movement relative to said frame to vary the tension of said drive means.

5. A sawing device as claimed in claim 3 in which said individual power units are connected to each saw by a flexible drive means and are pivotally mounted on the frame for limited longitudinal movement relative to said frame to vary the tension of said drive means, including a second flexible drive means extending between the saws and placed under suitable tension for correlated rotation of said saws.

his BERT MILLER.

mark HERBERT H. MILLER. Witnesses to mark:

F. HILL, W. C. SCOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 638,553 Burke Dec. 5, 1899 1,454,901 McArthur May 15, 1923 1,645,924 Palmigiano Oct. 18, 1927 2,216,971 Farmer Oct. 8, 1940 2,411,623 Jaques Nov. 26, 1946 2,441,431 McDonald May 11, 1948 2,455,840 Webb Dec. 7, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 211,980 Germany July 17, 1908 

